Coal loading and conveying mechanism



Dec. 28, 1948. l R, PEALE ET A| A 2,457,267

COAL LOADING AND CONVEYING MEGHANISM F'ileduan. 29, 1945 s'sheetS-sheet v1 A wif/E755 INVEvToRs RICHARD PEALE Y N REMBRANDT PEALE, JR.

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Atterney R. REALE r-:rAL 2,457,267 v com. LOADING lAND CONVEYING MECHANISM 'H9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 23 1948.

f Filed Jan. 29. 1945 INVENTORS RICHARD PEALE l REMBRANDT PEALE, JR.

Dec. 2s, w48.

Filed Jal'l. 29. 1945 COAL LOADING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 u u N RICHARD PEALE REMBRANDT PEALEJI.

Attorney L A n E L A E P R.

GOAL LOADING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 29. 1,945

9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS RICHARD PEALE FN A E EN,

@ww @NKME www .El A EN REMBRANDT BY *Y P EALE, JR.

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Attorney Filed Jan. 29. 1945 Dec. 28, 1948. R. PEALE ETAL` 2,457,267

CUAL LADNG AND CONVEYING MECHANISM l 9; sheds-sheet 5 413r sz 52 A INVENToRs RICHARD PERLE BY REMBRANDT PEALE, JR.

Attorney Dec. 28, 1948. R. Pl-:ALE AETAI. 2,457,257

' COAL AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 29, 1945 9 sheets-sheet e n INVENToRs 'nrcmn PEA'LE By' v '.REMBRANDT PEALE, JR.

At torney @IF 28, 1948.y R.PEAL.E ET AL 2,457,267

y COAL LOADING AND CONVEYING MECHIIISVM Filed Jan.

s m w www m E, mmm w. wmp m qw @n mmm @WA/4MM m Q mm wf mm SWNT M f www @mmf @n m am J m N N m H ec., 28, w48. R. PEALE ETAL 2,457,267

COAL LOADING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM v Filed Jan. 29.11945 v sa sheets-sheet a IN VEN TCR3 RICHARD pmu: REMBRANDT PEA-LE, JB.

Attorney BAY - Dez; 28,1948. RQPEALE ErAL Filed Jan. 29, 1.945r Y' COAL LOADNG AND CONVEYING MEcHA'NIsM 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS `Mmmm PEALE REMBRANDT PEALE, Jn.

. Attorney.

Patented ec. 28, 194g COAL LOADING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Richard Peale, Clearfield, Pa., and Rembrandt Peale, Jr., Greenwich, C

selves as trustees onn., assignors to them- Application January 29, 19475, Serial No. 575,080

7 Claims.

The invention relates to loading and conveying coal and more especially to novel and useful mechanism for gathering coal at the mine face and conveying same therefrom to portable receptacles for delivery from the mine.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in -part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalites and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one ernbodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a partly diagrammatic plan view of apparatus embodying the invention shown in operating loading position in a mine room;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal side elevation of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged end elevation of a loading and conveying car unit, viewed from the left-hand end of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the coal car conveying unit embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the unit car shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partly diagrammatic fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and showing the condition of a loaded car at such section.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, with parts in section, of the upper portion of a unit car showing details of the conveyor mounted and delivery gate construction;

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a similar section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. lo is a top plan view of the conveyor drive i car, parts being broken away to show the driving mechanism; 1

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the drive car shown in Fig.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modication wherein the conveyor drive is mounted on the mobile loader;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail in vertical section showing the -coupling bolt for connecting the conveyor to the driving mechanism;

, Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown .in Fig. 4l2; s Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail, in top plan, with parts broken away, showing an extensible bumper construction; vand Fig. 16 is a front end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15,. y i In mining coal by conventional commercial methods it is customary to convey the shot-down coal at the roomv face, either by hand or by a mechanical loader into a car` supported on tracks in the room and leading therefrom to a main heading. Because of vspace considerations and Athe necessity for close timbering to support the roof, a single narrow trackway is customarily laid from the face along the room to the heading and in operations where a-mobile track mounted loader is employed, saidloader is mounted on thetrackand occupies the end thereof adjacent to the shot-down face. Such mobile loader will .gather coal at the face and convey it rearwardly oroutby .into a mine car until the car is filled. lThe usual practice is to fill the car, run it out to the heading where Athere is room for switchving and then bring in an empty car to receive coal from the loader. AConsiderable delay isentailed in moving the full car out and bringing in the empty one, such delays becoming greater as the face of the room is advanced up to a vcustomarily maximum of about 300 ft. During `all such times when thecar is not stationed at tinuously loaded, either by a mechanical loader,

by hand or otherwise, without interruptions or vdelays entailed in removing loaded cars and providing-empty ones. f Another object of the yinvention 'is to provide -such apparatus which will operate eiciently in low seamrnineswhere head room is at apre- `I nium. In low seam mines (usually regarded as yhaving a seam height of approximately or less), it has heretofore been impossible 'Eo-employ in the mine room track-mounted `cars of ,Capacityl sufficient to contain any1-worthwhile amountof coaiand the delays entailed in shuttling the loaded and empty cars, as4 aforesaid, make the use of track-mounted room cars prohibitive. The invention not only eliminates all the delays whichaheretofore Irlilitatedy against the ensmsg undercut porti-n' of the seam is then armed and shot down with explosive'to form al shot-down m-ass C which may be loaded out by hand or by a mobile loader as shown. The mobile loader uni-t l is shown in the loading `position and has begun to load out the center portion of the shot-down mass of coal C. l Y

The loading and conveying apparatushere illustratively embodied comprises first, the loader unit I which is mounted to travel lengthwise of the room on the centrally-disposed trac'kway I0. Said trackway is' laid-along the mine floor,` either at -the's'eam bottom or in a somewhat depressed trough theneinv which may be formed by mining out a portion of the bottom rock whenl it is desired to yform tra-ck passageway ofrgre'ater' than seam height. The next unit in the apparatus, which is designed to receive the coal loaded by thefloader unit I and transfer same rearwardly (ir-'outwardly to the cars comprises the mobile drive car or unit 20. Next in line in the chain or string of apparatusare disposed-a plurality of 'the novel coal conveying and receiving car units 30, each of which is interchangeably identical 'with the other and adapted to be linked in an indefinite series for carrying out the purposes of the invention. l'

Referringr rst briefly to the same constructional faeturesgof the mobile loader (which, in the preferred form, of itself constitutes no specic feature of the invention) same is'shown as constructed in accordance with the principles disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 551,828,l since issued as Patent No. 2,430,364, filed August 30, 1944, but it will be understood that mobile loadersof the same general type, or different types of mechanical loaders, and also loadingjby hand, maybe employed to feed the coalconveying and receiving apparatus comprising the subject matter of the present invention. Said mobile loader unit l -a-s illustratively shown comprises th-e loading head 2 which is extendable into and under the shot-down mass ofcoal C and is equipped with conveying apparatus 3 for receiving and rearwardly transporting the coal which is gathered thereupon. Said loading head is'pivotally mounted for horizontal movement abouta vertical axis on wheeled carriage or truck v5. Thus the loading head is adapted to be advanced forwardly from the end ofthe trackway'l into the shot-down mass and 'to be turned horizontally as it advancesto load out the entire mass -C across the room face, `as more explicitly disclosed in `said `copendingapplication SerialfNo.` 551,828. The loading head is also pivotally articulated at several points between the vertical axis and the front end thereof to permit same to lie in angular conformity with the mine bottom beneath the shot-down mass; An intermediate conveyor unit B overlies the carriage 5 for receiving the coal from the `rear end of the loading head 2 .and conveying same rearwardly and upwardly to discharge onto the reeciving surface of rearl endless conveyor unit 1. The front end of said rear unit 'l is pivotally mounted on the carriage 5 and is adapted to be swung about a vertical pivotthereupon so as lto deliver the coalv from its rear`- elevated end-to any poin-t within its arc ofmovement. f

. vReferring next tothe intermediate or drive car unit-20, as shown, "sameis designedto receive and convey coal from'the rear or outby end'of thefmobile loader conveyor unit l, acrossthetop of. `said ldrive car 20 and therefrom'onto the receiving conveyor vof the coupled, next. adjacent d" unita-3u.Inaddiuongsaia drive caf is adapted to provide' the motive power .for the oscillating. or -ishaking'movement imparted .to theushaking conveyor. above said'drive car andalso to .the coupled shaking. conveyors of the car units' in the' stringi Theconstructional elements of said drive car are'shown inl Figs. ,10 and `11.

l Said drive 'carfcomprises a main :rectangular frame Aor'carriage having vertical side plates 2| and end 'cross frame members 22 at the rear. and 23 at the-front. Said relatively low rectangular frame is supported onl two sets of wheels 24 and 25 mounted on conventional axles 26 at thel rear andZ'l'f at .an `intermediate front portion of lthe frame respectivelysaid axles being journaled in the side frame members 2l as shown. The interior of the rectangular carriage is open and is there adapted to support conveyor drivingmechanism. l

Referring nowto the shaking conveyor mechanism which is mounted over the above-described drive car carriageand adapted to be drivingly oscilla'tedy withrespect thereto, same comprises a relatively narrow longitudinal flat pan 3| which is disposed lengthwise centrally of and above the top ofthe carriage frame. Said conveyor pan 3l` is a flat'platev and is provided ywith relatively shallow upstanding side walls'32 and 33 and open ends; The.: conveyor pan is` cradled .for longitudinal oscillating motion with respect to the carri'age frame. For .this purpose the inby end of the conveyor pan is provided with bracketsf35 depending from the pan bottom 3 l, which brackets are journalled onv cross shaft Sdwhich underlies and extends across the bottom vof the pan near the'inby end thereof. -Pivotally connectedto the shaft 36 at either end thereof is aipair. of supporting links-,31, the lower ends of said links being journalled on the projecting ends of the shaft 36,- and the upper ends thereof being journalled about the-ends of supporting stub shafts 38. Said stub shafts are xed to and project from vertical supporting brackets 3S at either side of theconveyor pan, the lower ends of said brackets 39 being seatedon# supporting blocks 48. whichin turnare fixed tol-the upper surfaces of longitudinal beams il extending'the length of the main frame of the carriage and constituting inner horizontal constructional struts thereof. In similar manner they outby end of the -conveyor pan isl.;oscil'latably supported by depending 'pairs of links l5-which are similarly journalled from shafts projecting from the upper ends of said brackets d6 resting on supports il near the forward ends of the struts 4I. Additional support for the supports dland 41 is provided by cross pieces 138 andd respectively which bridge from the tops of the side walls 2l onto the tops ofthe struts lll .as shown. For purposes of efficient operation of the `shaker con.- veyor, theoutby end thereof, supported by the links 45, is preferably slightlyhigher than the inby end,-'supported bythe links. 3l, the longitudinal pitch-or slopeof the conveyor pan` being preferably in the order of ege per foot.

Meansare provided for imparting the desired reciprocatory or oscillating movement to the conveyor pan 3.! in the lengthwise direction so as to cause the pieces of coal lyingthereuponto be movedlengthwise from the lower or inby end towardthe upper or outby end thereof. For this purpose a driving motor 50 is mountedibeneath thebottom of the conveyor pan between the struts lHof the car frame. Through a suitable reduction `gearing 5l said motor drives a cross shaft 52 `whicl'LJthnough drive belt 53 and pulley dzturns gates |60. the end4 of the latcheisoverlain by a cover plate .asa-aeg? .tion, constitute continuations of the side Walls of theconveyor pan, but which by means de scribed below, u ,may be lowered or yotherwise lmoved from said upright position,thereby to formbreaks or openings in the side walls oi the @conveyorpan, through which the coal may discharge laterally, aided in such vmovement by the -,convexslope of the pan Mi. The detailed construction for. so varying the positioncf the side plates orpanels |90 is shown in Fig. '7.

embodied, the` lateral edges of the pan |40 Iare, .serrated -to Y.provide inturned claws |66 V throughwhich is journaled a gate supporting rod Aiii?. vSaid rod passes the length ofthe three side gates libetween the end strut |43-and the cen ter strut |45. A similar set oi-rods is provided for thevthreeJ-gates,|60 along-the other half of the pan aty either side thereof. Each of the side gates Thus each gate |60 is-loosely hinged as stated from a closed to an open position, in -vvhich-latter position they are swung suciently afar beneath plate lllto wholly clear the edges ethereof.

`The leinbodiedumeans forr relea'sably retaining the gates in their erect or closed positions is shown in detail in Fig.` 7 and comprises a pair of horizontally reciprocable latches Hdl and Ill, mounted on theouter face of each gate and de- --signed to be moved y(in opposite directions to re-p;

Vleasesaid gate. The latch bar |70, for example,

vishorizontally movable through an aperture in the flanged end |13 of the gate |62 and thence VJ.passes throughs-a;similaraperture in the flanged wall Vlllof the Ushapedupstanding panel |15 which` isprovidedbetween each of the sets of When `seated. in the closed position,

|16 on the face of-said panell |15. The latch |10 ispurgedto the closedposition shown by helical #I `spring VFSy which lsurrounds, pull rod |79 attached ltothe end of the latchbar H0. `L )ulled-to the l open or unlocked position by means The latch is ofva linkv |80 `attached to one end of pivoted lever Irl.|8|,- the other end of which isjpivotally connected` V to "a manual pull rod |82 which overlies the end @flanges |13 and l'|4;and normally lies at about .the centerof theinterniediate xed plate |75. A

similar spring |84 and lever means |85 areac- Vtuated by a connecting rod |39 so that a pull vvexerted on the rod |82 will'simultaneouslywith- I,draw both the-latches l'ii and and permit the gate to swing-'down about the rod it? to the lower or open. position. It willy thus be yclear thatany orall of the side gates |60 along both sides of the conveyor pan illilmay` be selectively opened and left open as long as desired, thereby ,permitting coal to be progressively discharged into `the body of thecar from any -desired positionpof conveyor where thegates |60 have beenfopened. vgt will be seen that-by such means the entire -body ofvthe car will b eliilled withfcoal which isgspilled is1providedpwith similar intermeshing claws l |B8wh ich surround andere journalled about the frods |61.v yonthe rod `|66 to turn thereabout from the up- .fessi/creedetenere-noi there-f Thus our pf L`par-attrs, is ,designed to loperate in mines having p nomore space than would .t IItvwill further be noted that rnc apparatus-'is neededfor used in vwhich support is taken fromthe roei4 of the roomlor any other part oigthefapparatus exceptu the Vcars themselves. The iriveniionprcvides,means fer Coupling the venvdsm.dfnthe l conveyor pan 4|130 to the complementary ends of rsvirrlilar conveyor means in next adjacent-cars allein astringthereof.- This means has iseveral;,functions` First, it effects transmis- .sion oftheshaking;rnotion'so that the conveying actionish .continuedjrompone carto the next; seconda it.; permits. srelative `horizontal angular y movement between; `the conveyors Yof the coupled un itsgi30;|ih.ird, itgpermts vertical angular movement between c oupledfcar-unitsas when two cars ,j-rnay rest on partei-of tracksl having different slopesgand-fourth,` it also permits differences in the transverseangularity` between cars and cona-.VSYQr units as when theportlion of the'track betgreatn,onecardiaving difierenttside slope or list with respect to the next car. Referring to Figs. and the-,mbv or` erweisen@ of the conveyor plate |,40 which is the flowend thereof is overllappedgandunderlies a. coupling plate which fis penmanentlyfafxed-thereto. lSaid plate |99, v-v`which is flat in cross-,section and has upstanding nsg'de walls-.ox flanges I 9|,-.is somewhat tapered Vlongiti idinallyso as. tovlierwell within the ilared .-end of theiconveyorfpan |110y and the walls |4| thereof,:therebyfleaving a substantial transverse clearance between saidwalls |9| and |41 so as y Eto permit a. substantial horizontal angular motion betweenthe coupling plate` |90 and the conveyor plate |40 (Fiese-,aand 9).The couplingplate -.|,90 `which.actsas afconnecting trough to feed coal onto the: inbyend surface-of conveyor plate llffromthenext adjacent unit, is connected to said. plate |40 `for-.relative horizontal angular .amovernentvvith respect thereto. =Said connection lcomprises thervertical bolt or shaft |95 having y,ad-lat head |96 `whichllies on top of the plate |9(@,: passes loosely throughban aperture therein, through a similar alined-aperture in the plate |411 and is threaded |91 lat its lower end to receive f a, heX nut 98` which =is'preferably held in position `by acotter .pin |'99., 1 f fThisj construction as shown also permitsk substantial; relative transversey y'rocking motion be* ,tvveen thecouplingaplate l|90 and the conveyor plateiu For thatzpurpose a substantial 'clearance is provided between said two plates `due to :,their,.diierencein.angularity, while a convex fulerum bar4 200 vis supported on the upper surface fioirthenut; |98 and underlies-thecenter line of .the convexplate2|40- Due to the difference in angularity betweenthe upper convexsurface of v`,saidi-fulcrum andgtheoverlying concavity of the plate :'I; ay substantial` rocking emotion can take planceal .A convexfwasher 207|'. may be provided between the plate |40 and thevfulcrum; to take up Wear. 'i ieg-.Asgwillbe fseeufromi Figi/ 4, the inby or left- -tojoin the -inby endaofwonecar-conveyortothe outbyend ofthe 'next adjaoentPunit. coupling rod or shaft '2118 passed through "the 'loops *in the intermes'hed claws '-205 lfand *20B Apivotadly iioins said Yplates Ltogether. 3The -opposite lor giriby edge -of said #plate 2M is-similarly-providedwith claw vmembers 209 lwhich tui'nintermesh with i complementa-ryfprojeoting'clawslzl0 on the outby coupling' -plate or trough S211 5 kwhich 'extends 'from iand Yunderlies the-outby-`-end v"oi the `conveyor Aplate 440. :The rod 'rl-'I fliin'g-es-the plates 201 and 2-I-5 together so that by Ymeans -of --such coupling a substantial Vchange iin vertical arn- --gularit'y `between coupled -conveyor units may take place. "Theplate .201e-andthe plate A'2I5, like plate FISQ, are flat in 'crosssection--and are -tapered lengthwise '-so'as to `}:ein'ii1, 'advance of the coal rfrom one Y'-p'late *to 1the other. FiF-hns, -'(Fig. '-8) the side lwalls y#i4-I iai-conveyor plate 'Mollie Awitl'iingthe A-rear 2nde-waits 6 '-of `plate 2135, vwhile-the loutby -end `of rsaid Walls EFG *lie within Lthe vinby ends 'of Asini-liar walls 521-2 -cf similar Walls 212 of `plate 201. Plates 44D #and A21"5 are joined byfvertical'bort -2i, itheihead of which projects-through a conforming opening in the 'bottom of plate ylill and overiies lthe lbolt vopening infpla'tell. A1-horizontal plate 219 Vis)` welded-to the l'bottom of plate 1110 fand 'serves -a-s a takeup surface for tightening the 'nutA 220 onf-they bolt.'VV "l 'Eaoh car is designedfto be coupled at fe'ithex" `end' to Jthe'--neid:`adjacent vcars lof -the string, said coupling means -being designedfor normally loose slinkage -dur'ing itransit of ithe l:train of cars through Ithe mine, but'provision doeing' made fior eliminating slack between -ca-rs Lwhen @the con- -veyor units `thereof are linked together for 'loading operation so-Pthat the coupled conveyors lcan oscillate Las a'unit. Refer-rm llfirst tothe normal loose linkage ifor ltransit spurposes, same-may comprise the `relatively simple arrangement shown-'in Fig. '-5 `wherein a tapered'bumper block 225 projects -longitudi-nallyifrom -the lower :part of the -end -I-33 -o'f fthe -car body. A -d-raw bar 2-25 ext-ends horizontally from `-said -end 'of -"the 'car -to -a poi-nt somewhat 'short vof, the ftapered nose -o'f the`fbumper,-said draw bar being apertui'ed to #perm'it passage 'of the vertical :link pin 122i therethrough; The lower end of 'the llink --pin-is loosely sock-eted iin-a suitable recess "in the --bumperiZ-.' 'The "headli of -tlie pln rests on the-.top -surface -o-the --draw bar. 'An elongated, slotte-:d -couplingdink 230r is designed to be held pivotally Cin place PYby the pin .221 frbelow "the 'draw bar and resting upon the upper surface fof the Abumper 225. "The opposite -ovf'fsad link 23D is adapted vto besim'ilarly coupled to thetdraw Tbarfdill formed -at"f-the0pposite inby end 'of 'the /next"`car,=-there resting vu 'ilon the *.inby Thumper-233.

it will -rbe nei-ee that the draw pars 'm` andl 23! are positioned -neartheftops Vcffttheoars-"and thereby relatively Iolose lto thev linkage 'between conveyors cof adjacent units.v This arrangement -tends to l-reduce' dinerenc'es-in .angularity fbetween the -couplings di 'the cars rund the couplings, particularly with *respect to the-angular motion taking place between cars-when the train moved uover -a .vertical curve 'or change in level in the track.

-stantial -angular freedom between the oars '1in At-ianslt', -while :permitting considerable fplay or =slackibetween t-he'cars. In accordance with-the invention, as referred to above, means vare-itu*- -`ther provided for taking up this -play or slaok when the conveyor -units are linked together by qthe -coupling plates 201, thereby restricting -the -angular lmovements between the cars of the y-train to l'the -scope permitted by the couplings '-U of the conveyors themselves. A4Such vmeans-fare 'shown inFigs 'l5 and 16.

-I-n this ypreferred forni, the outby 'bumper 2125 -of each car is made shal1owerfthan1the=inby bumper thereof and a-'movable auxiliary bumper is xor interponent is suspended below the bottom of said outby bumper '-225,said-auxiliary 'bumper being normally Aretracted to lie A'iiush with the -end of said -outby bumper, but is movable -into an advanced position wherein it -lls up Athe Jslack Ior free play space r'normally existing be- Jtween the ends o'f the adjacent bumpers. `In said advanced position therefore, the adjacent "bumpers are Aeiectively "in 1contact with each other so that no longitudinal play or -slackexists =25 between-casein the train. 'iI-Iowever, the pivotal vactions of the Icouplings between-oarsreman Cso v`that -the cars may move around curves in the track substantially as lfreely 'as otherwise. 'This feature-of the nvention-isof importance in -pre- '30 serving Iuniformity -of space "between the cars at all-times when the ends-of the conveyor `units :thereofare coupled 'together yfor conveying and shaking action. Thus `with 'this arrangement the train of linked cars and conveyors may `4be moved Ialong-the `track bythe movement -o the loader while loading, all without disturbing *the oscillating and conveying motion of the linked conveyors onthe tops of the cars.

Referring to the preferred showing in detail,

140 'the *bumper 225 is vprovided `with an -underslung auxiliary `bumper -member "281. Said auxiliary bumper lis substantially V-shaped *in plan with -arounded-nose portion which conformsiin curva ture -to the rounded ynose portion of YYthe bumper 4'45 `225 above 'it and in the retracted 4position fully underlies and is ilush Vwith 'the #end or 'nose portion of 'said 'bumper 225.4 "One end o'f 'the `auxiliary'bumper 281 is pivotally suspended from the bottom of the bumper f225'lby -a-pin 288, the

lower end of which passes v'through Ia suitable aperture near the lleft 'hand fend -of the auxiliary bumper -and is pivotally affixed -to tand supports same by suitable nut and washer 29`I. The cen- -t-ral portion of the auxiliary Kbumper vis sup- A ported 'from Athe bumper '22-5 by 4a 'similar pin 12532. itheilower end of wl'iich passes through a ira'dial -slot '2&9 in the auxiliary bumper so that said auxiliary bumper can turn Iabout the pin `288 rwithin the angular *limits of said slot 289.

The advanced position of said auxiliary bumper is indicated by dotted lines, yit 'being designed to extend, in practice, for -a dista-nce of about two yinches to contact r-with the iriby end ofthe next adjacent bumper A233, that being the amount or play preferably permitted by the coupling links k123i).

Means are provided for `moving and holding the lauxiliary bumper 281 in said advancedjposition and-for returning same to the retracted'posi- '70 tion as desired. For such purpose the free or right 'hand -end of fthe auxiliary bumper 2'8'( is `pivotal-'ly 'connected through pi-n "28B tIto an 'operating lin-k 285. The opposite end of '-lirik '285 iis pivotally connected by eye 293 and pin 299 S1Ihe arrangement dust described permitsube 75 'to `the eccentric '1284, lsaid `eccentric being fixed 13 to thebottom end of pin '283. Said pin extends upwardly through the bumper 225 and its upper end, which projects thereabove, is xed to one end of the horizontal actuating arm 282. An actuating vknob or handle 280 extends upwardly from the opposite-end of said arm. Y-

In operation the auxiliary bumper. is held in its retractedor full lineposition when the arm 282 extends tothe left or toward the center of the bumper as shown. By rotating ythe arm 180, the eccentric 284 is similarlyrotated, thereby rocking the auxiliary bumper forward about pin 288 and thus moving same into the advanced position'where it will remain so long as'the Larm isso` fixed. For purposes of minute adjustment and' takingup wear, thev link 285 may be formed in two mating threaded parts as shown. y l

A modification of the means for driving the shaker conveyor units is shownin Figs. 12, 13

and'lfl. This modification comprises the provistring and said'mobile-loader may be eliminated.

Accordingly, in this modification eccentric or oscillating driving means for the shaking conveyors on the car units 30 are mounted directly on said outby end of the mobile loader itself and the outby; or tail conveyor unit Iy of the mobile loader is adapted to transfer the coal directly'intol the inby end of the rst car conveyor.

Thisconstruction is shown, somewhat diagrammatically, in Figs. 12 and 14. As embodied the `tail conveyor 'l of the mobile loader lis mounted for horizontal angular movement upon a turntable having a circular track bed 300 supported on the outbyportionof the mobile loader carriage 5. The rotatable portion of the turntable, which directly supports the belt conveyor 'l :com prises a plurality of track engaging rollers^3l| connected to form a rotary turret 302 on said trackway 30|).Y The outby end of the conveyor 1 is elevated to overhang the inby end of the coal receiving chute |90 comprising the inby end of the shaking conveyor (Fig. 4.) The overhang of the outby end of the conveyor with respect to the right end of said chute |90 is sufcient "to always deliver coal to said chute through the vwhich extend therefrom. The shaft is provided with a centrally disposed eccentric 3M which imparts oscillatory motion to a pitman 3|7`5. The

head of said pitman is a yoke 3|6 which is drivingly coupled to bottom plate |40 of the sha-ker:

conveyor, by means of a depending bolt 320, through pin 32| which passes through` thesides of theyoke 3l@ and opening 32| in the bolt. The upper or head end 322 of said bolt is seated on and passes through the plate |40 and is rapidly aixed thereto by threaded nut 323 and a series of intermediate washer plates as shown in Fig. 13.

The outby end of the mobile loader carriage 5 is provided with a bumper 330 and draw bar 33| by means of which link coupling is made lil with the corresponding inby bumper 23'3 and draw `bar23l of car 30, the link pins and connecting ling 230 being connected as previously described. The bumper 330 will preferably be provided with the auxiliary extensible bumper construction shown in Figs. 15 and 16 and described above, thereby to consolidate the linkage between the mobile conveyor and the rst car 30.

The operation of the invention will be generally clear from the foregoing. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, by virtue of the coupling means described, the entire string is adapted to conform to angular curvatures and irregularities in `the trackway both horizontally and vertically in all three dimensional planes. The string when so coupled constitutes a complete loading and conveying unit so that as the mobile loader progresses into the shot-down coal and thereby is drawn inby through the use of ropes and jacks as indicated in Fig. 1 and more fully described in our copending application Serial No. 534,030, led May 4, 1944, the entire string of cars will travel forwardly along the track with the carriage of the loader, and thus be continuously in the positions to receive the coal which is continuously conveyed thereto by the mobile loader. The cars of the string are successively filled by means of the selectively operable discharge gates |60 on the shaker conveyor units, the loading preferably beginning with the outby car and progressing inby therefrom as each car is loaded to capacity as shown in Fig. 6. Preferably enough cars are interconnected in the string so that the entire shotdown mass constituting the face C can be loaded 'by continuous operation into the cars of the string. When the entire mass C has been so loaded, the string of cars may be uncoupled from ythe loader and shunted out to the entry by the drivecar unit 20 which then acts as a shunting flocomotive for' the string. The loader is withdrawn from Vthe face suiciently for the next cutting and .shooting operation, whereupon a fresh string of cars is drawn into the room and hitched up to `the loader to begin a new loading cycle. It'will be obvious that'in this manner no time is `lost as in theprevious practice of individually carry the coal loaded therein all the way out to the surface of the mine without requiring any intermediate transfer of the coal from them to "another type of car or conveyor. It will further be clear that the complete interchangeability of "the car units 3|) enables them to be used in any number and in any position in the mine. Where a very large amount of. co-al is to be loaded in one operation, as in certain long wall mining operations, it may be desirable to provide one or more auxiliary drive car units 20 which may be interspersed. in a very long string of cars capable of handling such capacity, By this means the driving and conveying force required for such a long string of cars may be built up through the use of such intermediate drive units.

It will be found that by use of the invention the effective operating length of rooms may be substantially increased. That is, while in present operation about 300 ft. is considered the practical limit for the length of a room because of the arenas? .time consumed in .-the 4return of .emptyrcara etc., `asdescribed above, We have lfound .it practicable by thenpresent invention to operate with rooms aslong as 600 ft., thereby greatly'reducing the .development cost of room headings, in .that the room head centers can, by virtue ofthe invention be spaced :at least .twice-the usual ,distance Vabout it. y

. The invention -in .-its broader .aspects is fnot limited to the specific Amechanisms shown :and described but Vdepartures .ma-y be made therefrom :within the scope of `the accompanying claims without 'departing from the principles .of the .invention and without sacriiicing .its chief .advantages.

Whatis claimed is:

l. apparatus for loading and conveying coal, in combination, aplurality of `cars having coal- `receiving bins, said -`cars being .coupled together .in :a string, each car having a shaking :conveying unit mounted thereon and oscillatable relatively thereto, means vfor coupling the conveyor .on the .successive Jcars so that said units are movable together vto convey coal the length of the string .of cars, a .driving .unit for shaking :said .coupled conveying un-its together, .and means Ifor delivering .coal `from .any conveyor unit into the rhin of the car on `which it is mounted.

2. Inapparatus for loading andconveyingcoal, in combination, a plurality of cars having coalreceiving bins, said cars being coupled together in astring, each car having a shaking conveying unit mounted thereon and .oscillatable relatively thereto, means for coupling the `conveyor -units on the successive cars so that said units are mov--A .able together `Ato `convey vcoal the .length ofV the .string .of cars, .a driving unit for shaking said coupled conveying units together, and means for delivering coal from any `conveyor units into .any selected portion of the bin of the .car on which it is mounted.

3. In coal loading and conveying apparatus, in combination, a .car having an open `body for receiving coal, a shaking conveyor mounted on the .car for conveying coal over the top .of said body, and also. into said body, said car and .conveyor being portable together as a unit, said .conveyor having means `positiona-ble variously .for .deliver-- ing coal at selected points throughout its length.

4. In coal loading and conveying apparatus, in combination, a vcar having .an open v.body .for receiving coal, a shaking conveyorjmounted on the ear for .conveying .coal .over .the .top of :said

lbody, andalso into .said body, means .on said 4con- .veyor for ,selectively directing 4coal therefrom vinto .a .selected part .of said body, said .car .and conveyorbeing .portable together Aas a unit, drive' means for imparting .movement to the conveyor .to'movesame relatively to the car, asecond similer carhaving asimilar .conveyor mounted there- 1 .`onj, andmeans -for coupling said .carsand their respective conveyors together, said .drive means of .to .convey .coal along `the .top -of the .car .from `one end thereof to `the other, Imeans on vsaid con- -veyor for .selectively loading said .car .therefrom at .variouspoints .throughout its length, means for .coupling anendof said .conveyor to another similar conveyor on another car, said coupling lmeans 4permitting horizontal and vertical angular .movement between said conveyors, and single .driving means for shaking said coupled conveyorstogether. y

.6. .In coal loading and .conveying apparatus, vin combination, a plurality of bin cars mounted .on a track and coupled together `to .form a string, .each Aof said .cars ,being provided with a shaking conveyor .unit .extending therealong and con rnected thereto, means onsaidunits for selectively delivering coal .into the bin of :any ofv said cars, .means A.for `coupling .each said conveyor unit to fthose on the adjacent cars of the string so that .said .coupled .conveyor units operate together, .said `.coupling means being articulated to permit .turning .movement :between .conveyor units lto accommodate .the .coupled string to curves inthe track, means `for movingssaid coupled conveyor unitsin .unison to .convey .coal along the ystring of cars and .means for moving the `str-ing :of cars in transit while so coupled .and While said conveyor .units are moving.

il. .-In coal loading and conveying apparatus, .in combination, a plurality of .cars mounted on a .track and coupled together .to form .a string, each of said cars being ,provided .with a shaking conveyor .unit extending therealong .and connected thereto, means .for .coupling each said `conveyor unit .to .those on .the adjacent cars of thestring so' Ythat said coupled conveyor units operate .to- :get her, means :for vselectively delivering coal from any of -said units into its supporting lcar, a power .unitor moving said string of cars in transit along said track and for imparting yconveying movement to said conveyor units, .and a loading unit .for delivering coal to one Aof the conveyor units, said loading unit also being driven by .said Apower unit.

RICHARD `REALE. REMBRANDT PEALE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th i'ile of this patent:

pNrrEDsTA'rEs PATENTS Germany ;Mar. 14, 19.10 

